"Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm, and the worst tempered. He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark—for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies." - Animal Farm

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wikileaks, Round 3

A [State Department] spokesman said: "These revelations are harmful to the United States and our interests."

He added: "They are going to create tension in relationships between our diplomats and our friends around the world."

How whiny.

The government destroys evidence of prisoner abuse with impunity, refuse trial for people illegally abducted and tortured, assert your right to target and kill an American citizen, all without judicial oversight and what amounts to a "Just trust us," rationale. In the name of state secrets information and evidence of these crimes is being withheld. By its absolute non-cooperation, seemingly exercising absolute power, the government has in fact entirely ceded its power.

For criminalizing important information, like criminalizing anything else in tremendous demand (alcohol, marijuana, pornography), puts it in the hands of forces beyond their control, with their own interests. Wikileaks exists to fulfill that demand, and while it is odious in its exposure of individuals who could be killed for collaborating with the U.S., the government bears ultimate responsibility for creating these conditions in the first place (and subsequently dismissing Wikileaks' overtures to redact the names of those threatened).

It should also go without saying that exposing atrocities would not upset so many allies if there were not atrocities to expose.